Category: Evangelism

Immediately

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Evangelism

As a parent, you find yourself using the adverb “immediately” on many occasions while speaking to your children.  “Please take out the trash, and do it immediately.”  “You need to come inside immediately.  Supper’s ready.”  “I expect you to clean up your room immediately.”  Immediately means “at once; instantly; without any intervening time or space.”  Some synonyms are instantly, now, promptly, this very minute, on the spot, here and now, and without delay.   Those words clearly describe the desire of a parent’s heart and the timely action that is follow in the lives of their children.

This word is used often in the book of Mark in connection with the Lord’s actions and commands.  One instance in particular is found in Mark 1:16-20, And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.19 When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. 20 And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.  When Jesus called, they responded immediately, instantly, promptly, on the spot.

Is my response immediate to Christ’s commands and calls?  Or, do I sanctimoniously say, “I need to pray about that.”  I do not see anywhere in Scripture that I need to pray about obedience to the Lord. Since His way is perfect (Psalm 18:30), and He is God in all His attributes, character, and glory, I must obey immediately; I must act immediately.  As a father, I expected immediate response from my girls.  Perhaps our children would learn to respond in a more immediate fashion to us their parents if they saw us responding immediately to our Heavenly Father.  Can you hear your Father say, “Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46)?

God Writes the Best Stories

by Dale, posted in Evangelism

Sunday night after church, the New Adults SS Class headed on over to Jason’s Deli for some fellowship.  After awhile, three young men came in and sat down near us.  I said to my wife, “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think that was Thomas that I met at Sam’s Club last Friday night.”  The longer I sat there, the more convinced I became.  Finally, I went over to their table and engaged them in conversation.  There sat Thomas.  Wow!  The Lord had made a connection for me again!  We talked drag racing and the results of the days events.  Thomas shared with me that he had given the tract to John Force, and then I was able to share a tract with the three men.  Wow!  Awesome God!!

What are my “take-aways” from this continuing saga that has been such a blessing and an encouragement?

  1. Odds mean nothing to God.  He is able to do more than we could ever think! (2 Kings 3:18; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Ephesians 3:20).
  2. Be soul-conscious everywhere you go.  Always be ready to turn every conversation to the Theme of themes.  Let the Christ in you speak through you to point someone to Himself, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).
  3. Have strong faith when you pray because your faith is based upon an omnipotent God (Job 42:2; Psalm 33:6; Matthew 7:7; 21:22).

What opportunities are you pursuing right now to share the Good News?  How’s your faith in prayer?  Are you soul-conscious?  God is able.  God is faithful.  He knows how to write the story and put the right characters in the right place at the right time!

Such a Light Thing

by Dale, posted in Evangelism

If you read my blog from this past Friday, I told you about an opportunity that I let slip away at the Tri-Cities Airport on Thursday to at least give a gospel tract to NHRA Funny Car Champion, John Force.  Friday morning, I cried out to the Lord for another opportunity.  When you really think of it, since I am not attending the race this weekend in nearby Bristol, and even if I was, why would anyone let me near this man?   As I read 2 Kings 1-4, I wrote in my journal all the times we see the mighty acts of God described in those four chapters.  Even 2 King 3:18, Elisha says, This is a light thing in the sight of the LORD.  He will give the Moabites into your hand. What seems impossible to us is a light thing in God’s sight.

Are you ready for this?  While walking out of Sam’s Club last Friday night, who was pushing a large cart of items to a Ford van but a man wearing a shirt just like the one John Force was wearing on Thursday.  I asked him, “What is the chance you will be talking to John Force?”  He said, “100%!”  I couldn’t believe it but here was Thomas, one of his team members!!  I told him my story, gave him a gospel tract, and he promised that it would be delivered!   I certainly don’t know about John’s spiritual condition, but I just wanted the opportunity to place the gospel in his hands.

Tears came to my eyes as I walked back to my car.  “God, how wonderful, gracious and kind you are to answer my prayer!”  Futhermore, He showed me that He indeed is not willing that any perish (2 Peter 3:9)!  What seemed impossible to me was a light thing to the LORD!!

Who do you want to reach with the Gospel?  Seek the LORD, call upon Him, and watch Him work!  It’s not a light thing to Him!

Renewed Passion for the Great Commission

by Dale, posted in Discipleship, Evangelism, Renewal

While walking to the last workshop that I attended during the Spiritual Leadership Conference in Lancaster, CA, one of the pastoral staff said to me, “How’s the conference so far? Any take-aways?” My wife asked me yesterday, “What is the one thing you are taking away from this conference?” Without hesitation, that take-away is a renewed passion for the Great Commission found recorded in Matthew 28:18-20, And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

On the flight home yesterday, I finished reading Church Zero by Peyton Jones. Before the final chapter, the author quoted C.T. Studd, “I pray that when I die, all hell will have a party to celebrate the fact that I am no longer in the fight.” That, my friend, is a startling, heart-stopping statement! Am I so motivated by Christ’s love for me (2 Corinthians 5:14) and zealous to share the gospel that hell would rejoice when I am gone?

As I write this, my mind runs back to yesterday and the opportunity to share Jesus with Pierre who sat next to me on the flight from Los Angeles to Charlotte. Pierre professed to know Christ and gave good evidence of it. Another man on that same flight as well as the “crop duster” flight to Tri-Cities is well-known in the NHRA Drag Racing world, John Force. I wanted to get to him and share at least a gospel tract. When I finally had the opportunity, he was engaged in a stressful conversation on his cell phone while waiting for his bag at the luggage turnstile. John Force is a highly successful driver, a winner of fifteen NHRA championships.  But does he know Christ? That opportunity came briefly, but I missed it. I missed it. He was standing next to me, still stewing over his phone call. I wish I had turned, introduced myself and said, “John, I can tell you are under stress. My name is Dale, and I pastor a local church in the area. Could I stop and have a brief word of prayer for you right now?” I missed it. He grabbed his bag, and immediately was engaged again with someone on his phone as he walked toward the parking lot.

God is good, in spite of our failures, as He gave me the opportunity to briefly chat with one of John Force’s associates and give him a tract. When I arrived in Johnson City, the Lord sent two other opportunities along to minister to three people. Thank you, Lord!

I share all of this to simply be transparent with you. I want the last command of Christ to be my first priority. Christ came to seek and to save those who are lost (Luke 19:10). My commission is not to be an omission. I want to have the same passion as my Savior and missionary statesman, C.T. Studd. I want my “take-away” to be what other individuals take away from me—hearing the Gospel and knowing the love of God (John 3:16).

 

 

The Destination of Your Conversation

by Dale, posted in Evangelism

Airports are intriguing places, especially international, larger airports. People are everywhere, strolling along, in a hurry, eating, talking, captivated by their smartphones or ipads, trying to get through security and various other ingredients of airport life ultimately with a ticketed destination. I love watching people and talking to total strangers. How interesting it is to find out where they are from, where they are headed, and why they are travelling to their declared destination. My wife and daughters chuckle at me because I ask questions and get to know folks in such a way that the next step would be an invitation to come home with us. If their life has taken them to any destination near where I have lived or have relatives, these complete strangers and I have just about become kinfolk! J

Without sounding off here, the truth is, I have a destination. I am trying to break down barriers to get an opportunity to share with them the Theme of themes, the Journey of all journeys, the King of all kings, and the Lord of all lords . . . the Savior of lost souls, the Lord Jesus Christ. As I said to someone recently, “I will probably never see you again, but I sure want to know that I’ll see you in heaven.” Often this opens the door for the gospel, and at least, a gospel tract.

Today, you may not be in an airport, but you will probably be around a lot of people. What will be the destination of your conversations?

Who Sat Near You Last Night?

by Dale, posted in Church, Discipleship, Evangelism, Prayer

When you came to Wednesday Evening Prayer Meeting, who was seated around you?  Was it a visitor from out of the country steeped in Orthodox religion that had never been in a Baptist church before?  Was it one of the missionaries that your church supports?  Was it a new family looking for a home church?  Was it a family that was worshipping with you for the final time before they move out of town? Was it a heavy-burdened individual with extreme home issues?   Was it a man who is continuing to move forward in spite of a recent divorce? Was it a dear one who is being challenged at their workplace for their faith?  Was it a mother who had a rough day parenting?

How did you minister to that person?  I know it is so easy, after a hard day, to want to just come in and be ministered to.  May I encourage you to look to the One Who came to minister, not to be ministered unto (Mark 10:45), to enable you to really see the folks around you?  Christ will help you be able to have discernment, courage and strength to come alongside them and pray with them, minister to their needs, and bear the image of the gospel in their lives.  Christ will help you show them that He is the Anchor of Hope they really need (Hebrews 4:14-16; 6:18-20).  What a privilege; what a delight!!

Upon entering into the ministry of someone else’s need, you soon forget how tired you were.  You will leave church refreshed and grateful. So, who sat near you last night?

I Want To Be a Part of That Culture!

by Dale, posted in Church, Discipleship, Evangelism

While standing at the gas pumps yesterday, I heard a voice calling out my name.  I turned to see a new believer coming my way. She spoke and then went around to the other side of the car to talk with my wife. What caught my attention more than hearing my name was her broad smile and joyful attitude!  There is something special about new converts, new babes in Christ!  They are excited, uninhibited about their Savior, and contagious!!!  May their tribe increase!  Even as I was driving home last night listening to a sermon on the radio, I heard the preacher say, “The sign of a dead church is that it lacks evangelistic zeal. If new converts are not coming into the church, it’s only a matter of time until that church stagnates and is spiritually dead. New believers are the life-blood of the church!  We should want them.  We should pray for them.  We should embrace them. We should encourage them.”  Yes, yes, yes, and AMEN!!

Having said that, I want to share with you something I read yesterday afternoon that further ignited my heart for evangelism and new converts.  May this be true of Boones Creek Bible Church and the gospel-preaching evangelistic incubator where you are a member and serve!  Let’s want this!  Let’s pray for this!  Let’s embrace this!

I long for a church that understands that it—the local church—is the chosen and best method of evangelism. I long for a church where the Christians are so in love with Jesus that when they go about the regular time of worship, they become an image of the gospel. I long for a church that disarms with love, not entertainment, and lives out countercultural confidence in the power of the gospel. I long for a church where the greatest celebrations happen over those who share their faith, and the heroes are those who risk their reputations to evangelize.

I yearn for a culture of evangelism with brothers and sisters whose backs are up to mine in the battle, where I’m taught and I teach about what it means to share our faith; and where I see leaders in the church leading people to Jesus. I want a church where you can point to changed lives, where you can see people stand up and say, ‘When I came to this church two years ago, I didn’t know God, but now I do!’ I long to be part of a culture of evangelism like that. I bet you do, too.  (Evangelism, Mack Stiles)